Friday, February 22, 2013

Fazilka, February 18Following the seizure of narcotics and other banned items, and an increase in the number of prisoners at the sub-jail here, a modern jail has been proposed for the district headquarters.

The proposal to replace the 133-year-old sub-jail, which has been housing the prisoners of Abohar and Jalalabad sub-divisions also, with a district-level modern jail came after the elevation of Fazilka as district headquarters about 20 months ago.

Surinder Singh, a senior architect from the office of the Chief Architect, Punjab, accompanied by a team of local officials, conducted a survey of the sites for the proposed jail.

The team visited a location four km away from here and falling under villages Rampura and Banwala Hanuwanta on the National Highway. The land measuring about 15- acres is owned by the panchayats of the two villages.

Further, the team visited a site measuring about 20 acres at Salemshah village on the outskirts of the town.

"The final decision on the site shall be taken after receipt of a report from the office of the Chief Architect, Punjab," said Fazilka additional deputy commissioner Charandev Singh Maan.

The proposed modern jail shall have the capacity to house 1,000 prisoners. The jail shall have different projects and agricultural fields to keep the jail inmates busy.

The present jail at Fazilka came into existence in 1880. It was upgraded to a sub-jail on September 12, 1957.

The sub-jail, which is meant to accommodate 48 inmates, has remained overcrowded for the past several years. With setting up of the courts of additional district and sessions judge at Fazilka about two months ago, the number of inmates has risen.

Official sources said presently, around 130 inmates were lodged in the jail. The strength of watch and ward staff and the security personnel to take the prisoners for their appearance in the courts, however, continues to be the same.

"It is difficult to manage an overcrowded jail and meet the needs of the inmates," said Deputy Superintendent of the sub-jail, Sucha Singh.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Fazilka, February 6The announcement by the railway of making Fazilka a model (Adarsh) station has brought cheers to the residents. The announcement to this effect was made on Tuesday in Delhi. Besides Fazilka, two more railway stations, Muktsar and Gidderbaha, in Malwa region, would also be developed as Adarsh railway stations.

"Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had announced to upgrade the status of these railway stations during his visit to Muktsar on Maghi Mela this year and he has fulfilled his promise," said the president of the samiti, Dr Amar Lal Baghla.

The station will depict the local ethos. The architecture may also replicate a local landmark, said an official. An Adarsh station has all basic facilities like toilets, drinking water, waiting rooms and catering services. These stations also have dormitories, especially for women passengers.

A railway official said "The focus will also be on improvement in all areas like ticketing, circulating, signage, easy access, exit and adequate lighting at the station."

Beautiful Fazilka

Fazilite Network..

About Fazilka...

160 year old historical town Fazilka of District Ferozepur, also known as Bangla, is located in southwestern Punjab (INDIA), about 325 kms west of Punjab State Capital Chandigarh, 85 km south-west of the district headquarters, Ferozepur and 200 km south of Amritsar. Fazilka is on India -Pakistan border and is 11 km off the international border with Pakistan. It is situated on the rice growing and cotton rich belt of the state and is one of the major rice exporting centers in India. Before partition, the town was the biggest wool market in undivided Punjab.

Fazilka’s origin dates back to AD 1844. It was established by Mr. Oliver and was christened after the original owner of the land, Mian Fazil Watoo. The first railway line through the town was setup in AD 1898 on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the accession of Queen Victoria. Being at the border, Fazilka also had to bear the brunt of the two Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971.

The famous ‘Tosha’ sweets have its origin in Fazilka. The first single cylinder steam ship in the world, Fazilka, was named after this town. Fazilka is also home to the second biggest TV tower in Asia, which stands at 305 m above the ground.
Amritsar International Airport and Ludhiana Domestic Airport serves Fazilka. Fazilka Railway Station is located on Abhor- Ferozepur Region of Northern Railways. National Highway 10 passes through Fazilka.

Geography & Demography of the City:

As of 2001 India census,Fazilka had a population of 67,424. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Fazilka has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 62%. In Fazilka, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age